On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, a routine health inspection was conducted to ensure public food safety in LA. The inspection was conducted by the County of Los Angeles Public Health. The inspection resulted in the closure of two eateries: Ho Kee Café and Founders Ale House. One of the major reasons stated for the temporary closure was a vermin infestation in both establishments.
Please note that the scores mentioned here are from a particular inspection conducted on May 28 and may not represent the future health inspection status of the establishments.
Highlights
- The County of Los Angeles Public Health conducted a routine health inspection on May 28, 2025.
- The inspection resulted in Ho Kee Café and Founders Ale House being closed temporarily.
- Follow-up inspections will be conducted once corrective actions have been taken.
Ho Kee Café
- Where: 533 S Del Mar Ave, San Gabriel, CA 91776, United States
- Date: May 28, 2025
The restaurant specializes in Chinese dishes. The recent health inspection report found several problems, such as one major issue of a vermin infestation, which led to a temporary closure. While the vermin infestation has put the café at high risk, other violations were also observed during this inspection.
Inspectors noted that some food items came from unapproved sources. The café’s TPHC (Time as a Public Health Control) records were found to be incomplete. Additional violations related to food handling and quality were also noted.
Inspectors also cited several minor violations. These included the knowledge of the person in charge, a lack of food safety certification, and poor handwashing facilities. The full inspection report is available here.
Founders Ale House
- Where: 8771 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035, United States
- Date: May 28, 2025
Founders Ale House operates as a bar and restaurant and is known for offering a variety of beers. However, a case of vermin infestation was discovered during a recent health inspection, which led to the temporary closure of the facility. Inspectors saw five live adult German cockroaches in several areas during the inspection.
Additionally, the inspectors observed that food contact surfaces were unclean and unsanitized. Apart from these, inspectors also noted other minor issues with plumbing and the maintenance of the floors, walls, and ceilings. The establishment also had poor ventilation and lighting and lacked adequate handwashing facilities.
The inspection report also mentioned that equipment and utensils used in the establishment were found to be in unsanitary or disorganized condition.
Follow-Up Inspection
The owners of the two establishments need to take corrective actions for the violations noted in the report. They can request a reinspection of the restaurants. Operations can resume once the reinspection is approved.
